A new Friday Fictioneers photo prompt. Thank you Rochelle! And thank you Jennifer Pendergast for this wonderful photograph. For more information on how to be a part of the Friday Fictioneers (a great opportunity to practice your writing craft), click on the link above! My offering follows, I hope you enjoy!
Photograph copyright Jennifer Pendergast 2013
~
Tilting his head back as far as it would go he strained his neck, looking at the magnificent staircase. Stunning just stunning!
His nature to do so, he stands in quiet contemplation. His thoughts, the probable mentality of the architect drafting this design – an amazing masterpiece. Stair steps spiraling one above the other, on and on, seemingly without end.
With a change of perspective and attitude, his gaze turned to the items he had brought.
Painful reality, Ah yes. With a weary but determined set to his shoulders he gives a huge sigh and reaches down. Worn hands picking out needed items, he thinks one final thought about the architect – his newest nemesis. There certainly hadn’t been any consideration given as to who or how someone would be cleaning the thing.
~
A brief note here: When I first published this, the story was from the perspective of a female cleaning lady. But the more I thought about it, it seemed to me that it would play even better with a man in the role (a janitor type of personality), so I rewrote the original version to the one you see now!
Thank you,
Penny
The Why About This 
The photo’s of the inside of a lighthouse. I shudder at the nightmare of cleaning THAT type of staircase! A 7/7 job I would think. Nice story. Ann
Thanks Ann, I completely agree with you!
Cleaning the massive architectural masterpiece would surely be a full days work. I like the way his admiration morphed into a nemesis situation.
Yeah, I agree, we all have those moments of “wow that is so beautiful” and those moments of “Oh … crap!” I like to think I worded it more delicately in the written piece though. lol, Thank you.
Dear penny,
i like the POV you used. Great twist and a good lesson for architects.
Aloha,
Doug
Thanks Doug, I’m guess how something will be cleaned is largely ignored by most architects (maintained perhaps – cleaned, almost never)! Aloha, xx
The position of how something might be cleaned determines whether or not I will get a knick-knack (more often not). I can imagine having to clean those rails… OhhHHhh heck no!
Couldn’t agree more! 🙂
Great twist, and someone had to take the janitor’s point of view.
Very good twist, yes indee a janitor’s nightmare. 🙂
Thanks, I agree, it would be a nightmare, with all those steps neverending! 🙂
Great story, it works so well. I loved the line …’he thinks one final thought about the architect – his newest nemesis’ – says everything.
Very enjoyable
Dee
Thank you Dee, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Dee. Glad you enjoyed my take on this!
I like his perspective. He has an eye for the architectural beauty. and then whack the realization for the reader regarding the work involved adds another spin that we can all appreciate
Kinda like life isn’t it? This was a fun piece to write!
Well it gave someone a job if that counts for anything….I get the feeling you are a clean freak. Nice job.
Tom
I’m a clean freak only if some one else is doing the actual work Tom! lol, Being Scandinavian, I will admit to preferring to be a minimalist when it comes to my surroundings, having said that, my private living quarters are quite “inspiring”! Filled with books, and papers, and 2 large cats and a plethora of other items (sketches, paintings etc.) “bjets d’art”. Thanks for the compliment!
Do you have any of your sketches posted? I would enjoy seeing them.
Tom
Hi Tom, Very few posted but I did find one for you! https://thewhyaboutthis.com/2012/10/03/once-upon-a-time-a-sea-creaturemy-art/ Thanks for your interest! Penny
Very cool…Thanks I will take a look!
I thought he was going to have to carry furniture up those steps, but cleaning them is even better. I love the lofty thoughts of the janitor – a profession too easy to stereotype.
Thanks, I agree, I have met some amazing people in my life, their profession and their private world ~ poles apart! This was a fun piece for me to write! 🙂
Amazing take on the prompt
Original that’s for sure, Celestine! Thanks! 🙂
The line “worn hands” really conveyed the weariness of situation. It would be hard enough to do something like that when you were young.
Totally agree, an daunting task to say the least!
Dear Penny,
Your last line took me by surprise and made me laugh. Nice one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle for your nice compliments, very much appreciated when they come from you! Penny xx
Yes, what a perspective! To clean each baluster, and all the spaces in between, Stair cases like this one were designed when labour was cheap. ouch! kind a like now…
I’m the first to glory in the beauty of a thing myself. So I did try to go in a direction that embraced that aspect, the rest was an exercise of thinking out of the box! Thank you, and you’re right about the now of things! Yes!
Great perspective on this photo Penny. 🙂
Thanks LuAnn, I had fun with it! 🙂
Interesting how the sex of the character can change the image a bit.
Like snow – Purdeeeee to look at – but – heck to clean!
xx 🙂 🙂 xx
Yes, I also found that … well … most interesting, my friend! But universally speaking … your ‘heck to clean’ a huge truth, for anyone with that responsibility! 🙂
Yes…beauty in the eye of the beholder indeed! Very philosophical post…
I’ll admit I was going for originality. Thank you!
Lovely story .. but it is an interesting photo.. normally one would have taken it in the center of the spiral.. so a different perspective in the photo and you changed your story giving a different perspective… loved it.,.
Thank you very much, I did have fun with it!
wow. this was a different write-up, Penny, and unexpected:) a nice one
It was padmini. For me writing is a challenge on a variety of levels. Coming up with an original idea for the content is one of them, followed by the composition (beginning, middle, end – that achieves the intended purpose) of the piece, followed by the words (style of writing) being used, followed by it’s ability to flow well. Summing things up here lol! 😉
that’s amazing, Penny.
Thanks Padmini, lots of practice probably! 🙂
Such a very practical response to the challenge! Nicely done.
Thank you Sandra. It was most practical wasn’t it! 🙂
I loved your take on this one! It was your ability to be so very creative and spectacularly write this that prompted me to give it a try this week! Thank you for all ways inspiring me! Love and Hugs!!! ❤ ❤
My true pleasure. With you always Christina! 🙂 xx
This wonderful, Penny
Glad that you took up the janitor’s cause, so to speak.
Quite often we gawk and gasp but ignore the rest.
Peace, Eric
Thank you Eric!
I’m with Eric on this one. Loved the gawk and gasp and ignore the rest, Eric. Loved the “heck to clean” in the piece. Definitely a different perspective from all the climbers this week.
Thank you Jennifer, I do like to approach things from a unique perspective, as I can! 🙂
The only thing that would make this worse to clean would be windows! I feel for him.
Oh yes, the windows, OMGolly!
Lol
Penny, this reminds me of the library near us that was in an old mansion. The girls used to say, “Mom, wouldn’t you love to live there?” and I would say that I wouldn’t want to have to clean it. Their response was that if I could live there, I would be able to afford to have someone to clean it. 🙂
janet
So true! Smart girls! 🙂
AnElephantCant resist telling Penny
How much he admires what you do
This clever tale
Eschews the male
And brilliantly delivers the ladies’ view
Thank you very much for your charming comment. After rereading this once again, I decided the view from a janitor’s perspective would be better, more suitable given the size of the structure, so I changed the she to a he! Hope you like this one also! With affection, Penny xx
AnElephantCant believe it
He feels like he has been put through a blender
His comment looks daft
As a big pink giraffe
Now Penny’s story has just gone trans-gender
Nut! Peanut probably! It is still more likely to be from a woman’s perspective! But the janitor made more sense in this setting! 🙂
Hrrrummmpphhhh!
And a hug.
Yes, I’m glad it’s not my job to clean it 8^). Nice one.
Thank you! I agree with you!
I like much
thanks boomie!
That sounds like something I would do. Think about the cleaning after-the-fact. What a terrific post.
thank you very much deana! 🙂
I think when I come back from the shop, I’m going to see if I can have try and have a go at this, I have seen so many good ones. Your one made me laugh though 🙂
I love it,
Thanks Alastair, glad you enjoyed! 🙂
I did. That last line was funny. Certainly not as dark as my one. LOL